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The revolution in biosensing technology: How can photonic crystals become the ultimate tool for medical testing?
In the ever-advancing technology, biosensing technology is ushering in an unprecedented revolution. Photonic crystals, nanostructures composed of periodically arranged dielectric materials, are gradually showing their great potential in the field of medical detection. The interaction of photonic crystals with light depends on its specific structure. This characteristic can be used to measure various biological indicators, further promoting the improvement of test accuracy and efficiency.
The basic principle of photonic crystals is to reflect light of a specific wavelength. The periodicity of any structure or changes in the refractive index will cause changes in the reflected color.
The diverse shapes and materials of photonic crystals make them highly customizable in the market. These material options include inorganic materials, organic materials, and even plasmonic metal nanoparticles. Well-designed photonic crystals can exhibit high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, and can operate without the need for electricity, which is extremely attractive for the development of portable biosensors.
Photonic crystal biosensor
By combining analysis, device miniaturization, fluidic design, and integration technologies, photonic crystals have led to integrated lab-on-a-chip devices with high sensitivity, low detection limits, fast response times, and low cost. This type of equipment can detect biomarkers quickly and accurately, providing a tool for diagnosis and health monitoring. They can detect the concentration of various biological indicators such as proteins, DNA, cancer cells, glucose and antibodies as low as 15 nM.
The development of biosensors is not limited to sensitivity, but also emphasizes their rapid and accurate detection capabilities, which are crucial for health monitoring.
Applications of chemical sensors
Photonic crystals also show strong potential for detecting specific chemicals. Each chemical analyte has its own specific refractive index, and when these compounds enter the porous photonic structure, they cause significant color changes that can be considered a type of fingerprint. By choosing appropriate materials and analyte interactions, it is possible to design label-resistant sensors that achieve greater specificity and sensitivity.
Characteristics of mechanical sensors
In addition to chemical and biological detection, photonic crystals can also be used in mechanical sensing, including different mechanical signals such as pressure, strain, torsion and bending. These sensors are based on changes in lattice constants in flexible materials, allowing them to detect changes as small as microns.
Development of three-dimensional photonic crystals
Synthetic opal is a common three-dimensional photonic crystal that contains self-assembled nanospheres. The fabrication of these structures provides greater free volume for rapid chemical diffusion. In contrast, inverse opal is designed to fill the spaces between the spheres with other materials, which will provide more suitable diffusion efficiency when the spheres are removed.
Photonic crystal fiber
Photonic crystal fiber is another special type of optical fiber that contains air holes distributed in a specific pattern. Due to their high sensitivity, inherent flexibility, and small diameter, this type of fiber is ideally suited for use in a variety of situations that require a high degree of durability and portability.
One-dimensional photonic crystal structure
One-dimensional photonic crystal structures A planar photonic crystal with a two-dimensional ordered structure was created using selective material removal methods. These structures can be used in a variety of sensing applications, showing flexibility and practicality.
Conclusion
With the development of technology and the expansion of the application scope of photonic crystals, these biosensing tools have the potential to completely change the way we conduct medical detection in the future. The characteristics of photonic crystals not only provide solutions for different applications, but also lay the foundation for future scientific research and technological progress. With more research and exploration, how will these technologies change our understanding and management of health?
